Sister Cities
by The Wonder Years
Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. Exclaim
    Apr 13, 2018
    90
    Fresh and ambitious without taking a step too far, Sister Cities is the Wonder Years' most fully realized work, and an artistic statement that deserves to be taken seriously.
  2. Punknews.org (Staff)
    Apr 9, 2018
    90
    This record really scrapes past [No Closer To Heaven] with so much more heart and soul. ... The most well-produced and expansive sound I've heard from TWY.
  3. Sputnikmusic
    Apr 6, 2018
    90
    Themes and lyrics aside, the record is simply full of great songs.
  5. Under The Radar
    Jun 20, 2018
    85
    Even without probing that deeply it's clear that this is a phenomenal album that not only transcends genres but which also only feels like the next phase of a career already 13 years short that has a long and exciting future ahead.
  6. Kerrang!
    Apr 13, 2018
    80
    A record that feels completely at ease with itself. [Mar 31 2018, p.53]
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  7. The Line of Best Fit
    Apr 12, 2018
    80
    Its 11 tracks taking listeners on an rollercoaster of emotional peaks and troughs, and by the time the closing moments of final track "The Ocean Grew Hands To Hold Me" ring out, you can’t help but feel bruised, beaten and above all cleansed.
  8. DIY Magazine
    Apr 6, 2018
    80
    Offering up another soundtrack for the disenfranchised and downtrodden, Sister Cities is a renewed example of just how powerful and poignant The Wonder Years can be.
  9. Pitchfork
    Apr 6, 2018
    71
    Fans of big, stadium-swinging hooks might find Sister Cities a sparser, more introspective affair than they prefer, but the band seems okay with leaving South Philly basements behind and seeing more of the world.
  10. AllMusic
    Apr 6, 2018
    70
    The overall tone of Sister Cities is intense and, at times, comes across as unrelentingly dour. Still, the Wonder Years' maturation from suburban pop punk ennui to (literal) world-weary emo desperation feels like a logical progression, and it's hard to fault them for tackling bigger subjects.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. leave_me_alone
    Apr 9, 2019
    6
    I'm very surprised at how many positive reviews there are for this album. If you became a fan of The Wonder Years before this record, youI'm very surprised at how many positive reviews there are for this album. If you became a fan of The Wonder Years before this record, you should be disappointed. DavidCall360 writes "not as good as their last two albums" and proceeds to rate it as a 9/10 which is extremely generous... I really don't find any of the songs to be very diverse or that original compared to No Closer To Heaven or The Greatest Generation. Most of the riffs and chord progressions are very generic, there aren't enough hooks or catchy melodies in any of the songs for them to be memorable. I'm almost 100% positive they worked really hard on this record but it comes off as a lazy written album. To be blunt, I find all the songs on this album to be very boring. If you gave No Closer To Heaven a 9/10, this is nowhere near that. I'm hoping they redeem themselves with their next album but it sucks that they're probably going to play a bunch of jams from this album on tour for the next year or so.… Full Review »
  2. fwtll636
    May 31, 2018
    6
    I find it hard to identify any bit of originality throughout the record. Even when The Wonder Years explores new sounds, their musicalI find it hard to identify any bit of originality throughout the record. Even when The Wonder Years explores new sounds, their musical limitations can't support the switch and they fall flat.… Full Review »
  3. GMAJ0R
    Apr 13, 2018
    10
    Listening to this album alongside the supplementary book was the most fulfilling music listening experience I have ever had. Ideally, theListening to this album alongside the supplementary book was the most fulfilling music listening experience I have ever had. Ideally, the material in there will be available in the form of HQ scans one day and I implore anybody who has the opportunity to follow along with the music. Truly a masterpiece.… Full Review »
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